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    Claim up to $500K+ in R&D tax credits

    Most startups qualify for R&D tax credits and leave the money on the table. We handle the full process for you, from identifying qualifying activities to filing Form 6765. You only pay if you get the credit.

    Most startups qualify and don't realize it

    If your team builds software, develops products, or improves processes, you likely qualify. The IRS uses a 4-part test:

    Permitted purpose

    The work must aim to create a new or improved product, process, software, technique, formula, or invention.

    Technological uncertainty

    There must be uncertainty about the capability, method, or design at the outset of the project.

    Process of experimentation

    The work must involve evaluating alternatives through modeling, simulation, testing, or systematic trial and error.

    Technological in nature

    The work must rely on principles of engineering, computer science, biological science, or physical science.

    Importantly, the work does NOT need to succeed. Failed experiments and abandoned projects still qualify if they meet these criteria.

    Qualifying expenses

    These common startup costs often qualify for the R&D credit:

    Developer salaries and wages

    Engineers, designers, and product managers working on qualifying projects

    Contractor payments

    Payments to freelance developers and consultants for qualifying work (65% of costs qualify)

    Cloud computing costs

    AWS, GCP, Azure, and other cloud infrastructure used for development and testing

    Supplies and materials

    Hardware, prototyping materials, and testing equipment used in R&D activities

    Section 174 amortization: What changed and what's coming

    Starting in 2022, Section 174 required businesses to amortize R&D expenses over 5 years instead of deducting them immediately. This significantly increased tax bills for R&D-heavy companies.

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in 2025, restores immediate expensing for domestic R&D costs starting in tax year 2025 and provides retroactive relief for small businesses (under $50M gross receipts) for tax years 2022-2024.

    What this means for you:

    If you capitalized R&D expenses in 2022-2024, you may be eligible for amended returns that could result in significant refunds. We can analyze your situation and file amended returns if beneficial.

    How it works

    01

    Identify qualifying activities

    We review your engineering work, product roadmap, and project history to identify all activities that meet the IRS 4-part test.

    02

    Calculate the credit

    We compute your credit using both the regular and alternative simplified methods, choosing whichever maximizes your benefit.

    03

    Prepare the technical study

    We create the documentation and technical narratives that substantiate your claim in case of audit.

    04

    File Form 6765

    We file the credit with your tax return, including the payroll tax election for startups (up to $500K against payroll taxes for companies with less than $5M in gross receipts).

    Success-based pricing: 10% of credits received

    You pay nothing unless you get the credit. No upfront fees, no hourly billing.

    Frequently asked questions

    Most early-stage startups claim between $50,000 and $250,000 per year. Companies with larger engineering teams often claim $500,000 or more. The credit is calculated based on qualifying R&D expenses including developer salaries, contractor costs, and cloud computing.

    Yes. Startups with less than $5 million in gross receipts and fewer than 5 years of revenue can elect to apply up to $500,000 per year in R&D credits against their payroll tax liability.

    Domestic contractor payments qualify at 65% of the amount paid. Foreign contractor costs do not qualify for the federal R&D credit.

    You can amend returns to claim R&D credits for up to 3 prior open tax years, potentially recovering significant value.

    Almost always, yes. Building new software features, improving performance, developing algorithms, creating integrations, and building internal tools all typically qualify.

    We handle all documentation as part of our service. We generally need access to your project management tools, git repositories, and time tracking data to substantiate the claim.

    The R&D tax credit is a well-established incentive that the IRS expects companies to claim. The key risk factor is inadequate documentation, which is exactly what our technical study addresses.

    If you filed returns for 2022-2024 where you amortized R&D expenses over 5 years, the OBBBA's retroactive relief for small businesses may entitle you to amended returns and refunds.

    Estimate your R&D tax credit

    See your likely federal credit and how much you could claim against payroll taxes, even pre-revenue, in about a minute.

    Open the R&D calculator

    Find out if you qualify